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l(No Model.) Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 M. W. GROVBSTBEN & F. G. JAHN.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE. y

dJune 12, 1888.

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Ml W. GROVESTE'EN 8v E. G. JAEN.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CLOSINGl DEVICE.

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WMM/wow UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON XV. GROVESTEEN AND FREDERICK G. JAHN, GF NEW'Y YORK, N. Y.

ELECTRIC ClRCUlT-CLOSING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,570, dated .Tune 12. 1888.

Application filed February 24, 1858. Serial No. 5265.133. (No model.)

.To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Beit known that we, MILTON NV. GROVE- sTEEN and FREDERICK G'. JAHN, citizens of the United States, residing in New York, in the county and State of New York, have iuvented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Circuit-Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to the construction of devices for communicating motion through the walls of a chamber, reservoir` lor tube designed to contain auf,T gas or fluid.

The object o f the invention is to provide convenient and efficient means for securing a lateral movement of an arm, point, or'lever outside of the chamber, tube, or reservoir, through the instrumentality of a fluid or gas moving within the same, and preventing any escape of the fluid or liquid therefrom. To accomplish this, a packing or joint is provided which prevents the passage of gas or duid, and at the same time permits of the required movement of the lever, point, or arm. The movements occasioned outside of the chamber may be employed for various purposes-such, for instance, as controlling the connections of an electric circuit, operating a pneumatic device, or any suitable mechanical apparatus.

The invention will be described more especially as employed for controlling the connections of au electric circuit; but it may be employed for other purposes without departing from the spirit of the invention.

|Ihe general plan of theinvcntion is to place Within a. pipe, tube, reservoir, or chamber which conveys or is to convey a gas or duid a movable vane or wing which normally stands at rest in such a position as to more or less completely close the opening thereof. When the fluid or gas flows through the pipe or chamber, the vane is turned, and it causes a lever, which extends outside of the chamber through a tubular flexible packing, to be moved laterally. This lever may, if desired, carry a circuit-closing point adapted to play against a suitable contact-point. The circuitclosing and contact points may constitute the terminals of an electric circuit employed for operating any suitable signaling apparatus or other electrical devices.

cation.

contact-point, c".

In the drawings, Figure 1 is an end view, partly in section; and Fig. 2, a cross-section of a device employed for carrying out the invention. Fig. 3 is a reverse view of a modifi- Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate certain details; and Figs. 6 and 7 are respectivelyaside and an end view of a modified form.

Referring to the figures, A represents a tube `or pipesuch, for instance, as may be employed in an automatic sprinkler system-and this pipe may be normally filled with a firecxtinguishing duid, which is released at va-- rious points when the temperaturcfhas risen suliiciently to render it dangerous. It is evident, however, that the tube may be employed in other systems of apparatus for various other moving uids or gases. As the fluid iiows through the pipe in the direction indicated by .thearrows, a vane or wing, B, which partially or completely closes the area or opening through the tube, is swung in the directlon of the liow of the fluid. This causes an arm, h,

to be moved laterally, and this arm may carry,- asshown in thisinstance,acircuit-closing point,

c', which will be pressed against an insulated Thesetwo points constitute the terminals of an electric circuit, the point c2 being connected by a conductor, l, with one poleof a battery, o, ywhile the point c' is connected by a conductor, 2, through an electromagnet or annunciator device, O, with the other pole'of the battery.

The vane is supported upon au-axis, e, the ends of which may be carried in arms' e' and c2 of a tube, E. This tube extends through a plug, F, Figs, l and 2, or a plate, F, Fig. 3. The plug in Figs. l and 2 may be screwed into a suitable opening cut in the pipe A, or the plate'F, Fig. 3, may be clamped over an opening in the tube A) The vane is inserted through this opening, and a packing of rubber or other suitable material, f, surrounds the opening and is pressed between the plate and the tube A, the plate being held in place by a staple or clamp, f', and nuts f, or in any other convenient manner.

The tube E is fitted tightly into the plate F, so that a duid-tight joint is formed.- A setnut, P', may surround the tube E. A spring, g, surrounds the axis e, and one end passes be- IOO hind the vane, tending to push it in the direc-v tion to close the area of the pipe A. A shoulder or arm, la, carried upon the vane engages with the tube E, or a shoulder or pin carried thereby, and prevents the lvane from moving beyond a'position at right angles with the length ofthe tube A. One end of the arm h, which carries the circuit-closing point cvand extends through the tube E, is engaged by the lo remaining end of the spring g, and the parts are so adjusted that the spring normally tends vto hold `the point c away from the point c?.

. When, however, the vane is turned uponits l axis against the tension of the spring, it will move th'e point c against thisjpoint c".

The arm h extends also through a tube, p, which sets' into a'cap, n'. A shoulder or lug, h, upon the rod h, at the ,inner end of the tube p, serves as afulcrum. 1t is evident that the necessary that this opening shouldbeclo'sed fluid-tight, whilethe inner end of the arm is z5 this `purpose a short flexible tube, l?, which f may be of rubber or other suitable yielding 1 .or iexible material, is employed as a seal or packing between the tube p and the arm h. This is securely cemented `or fastened to the 3o 'a1-m, as shown at m, and it fits tightly upon the tube p, and may be sealed thereto if necessary. This device permits a sufcient movement of the arm h with reference tothe tube p, and at the same time secures a tight joint between thetwo parts. Theleugth of the tube may be varied as found necessary; but it should be of such length as to allow sufficient relative movement between the two parts. It is frequently desired to insert a device ofl the character-described into a pipe of a system which has been already set up, and to avoid making a large opening into the pipe the vane may be constructed with wings t and t, which fold back upon the central part, so that the entire device may be inserted through a small opening. For this purpose the wings -t and t2 are pivoted or hinged upon the central portion, t, and suitable springs, s and s, tend to hold the wings forward parallel with the central portion, by the overlappingv edges of which they are engaged, and thus prevented from moving beyond the required position. It will be noticed that the wings fold in such direction that the pressure of the fluid tends to spread them. This construction is of ad- 55 iently attached bya bayonet-joint, T', Fig. 7,

in connection with the insulated binding-post c, carry1ng the point c.

opening formed for the arm h must' be ofsutlcientsi'ze to allow it to4 move freely, and it is allowed to pass freely into the pipe A. For

4ically coupled therewith and actuated thereby,

'In rigen 'and 7 a modification is illustrated in which the vane'is placed in a square or rectangular chamber, being` inserted through the 7o slot u at the top.- Itis shown as being of such width and size as to cover the entrance into the chamber. vThis vane is shown as being solid or of one piece without the wings, and, as the portion'of the chamber toward which 1t turns is iiat, it will lieclose against'this side, thus opening the entire passage to the How of the iuid.

We claim vas our invention- 1. The combination of a movable vane,an arnlactuated thereby, a 'chamber or conduit containing the vane, said arm extending., w1th vout the chamber, and a flexible tubularpacking intervening between the arm and the chamber through which said arin extends. A

2. The combination of a movable arma vane forgiving a lateral movement to the arm,

a contact-point therefor, and a support for the circuit-closing point'consisting of a flexible tube..

5. A circuit-closing device consisting of a pivoted vane, a circuit-closing point mechanically coupled therewith and actuated thereby, a contactpoint therefor, a flexible packing be- 'tween thecircuit-closing point and the support of the vane, consisting of a flexible tube one end of which is sealed tothe circuit-closing arm and the other to the support of the vane.

' 6. The combination of a movable vane, an

arm or lever one end of which is engaged by or connected with said vane, a hollow post through which said lever extends7 a' lug upon the lever at the end ot' the hollow post ail'ording a fulcrum, and a flexible tubular packing intervening between said arm and-said post, substantially as described. x

7. A circuit-closing attachment which consists of a vane, B, contained in the tube A, the` spring normally holdingA the vane in' agiven l direction, the stop opposed to the spring, the movable circuitclosing arm h, the cup n', through which it extends, the flexible coupling or packing between the arm and cup, and a contact-point applied to the circuit-closing IXO IIS

. arm, substantially as described.

8. VIn a circuit-closing device, avane or valve having wings folding in a. 'given direction, and a circuit-closing arm or points 'actuated by means'of the vane.

9. .The combination, with an electrical at- IOO tachmeut for a chamber or conduit, of a cirscribed our names this 18th day of February, cuit-closing point outside of the chamba;` or A. D. 1888.v Y conduit, a device within the chamber or con- MILTON W. GROVESTEEN duit for actuating the same, and a. -iiexlble 5 tubular packing through which a movable 1me-` FREDERICK G' JAEN" chanical connection is formed with the vcircuit- Witnesses: closing device., S. Woon MCCLURE,

In testimony whereof we have hereunto sub- GEO. H. MCDEBMOTT. 

